by Eric Prisbell and Scott Gleeson, USA TODAY Sports

by Eric Prisbell and Scott Gleeson, USA TODAY Sports

Kansas freshman Andrew Wiggins announced his plans to declare for the NBA draft on Monday, ending his short year with the Jayhawks and following the expected one-and-done path to the league.

Wiggins is a projected lottery pick and could be the top overall choice based on his upside. Fellow Kansas freshman Wayne Selden Jr. has already announced he will return to school. Freshman center Joel Embiid, who also has a chance to be the top overall pick, has yet to announce his plans.

"It wasn't an easy decision," Wiggins said in a scheduled news conference of his decision not to stay at KU. "I just wish I had more time. It went by so fast."

Wiggins' lone college season started with an incredible buzz but ended on a sour note with a poor performance in Kansas' second-round NCAA tournament loss to Stanford.

"No one's game is perfect, I know I have a lot I have to improve on," Wiggins said.

He entered college as the most touted high school prospect arguably since LeBron James. He was on the cover of Sports Illustrated before he played a game, and even his arrival on campus last summer sparked significant attention.

Throughout the season, Wiggins played the way he often did in high school at Huntington Prep (W.Va.). At times, he showed flashes of offensive brilliance and freakish athletic ability on a balanced Kansas team. At other times, he appeared to blend in or, worse, appear invisible on the court.

"I feel for Wiggins every day," SMU coach Larry Brown told USA TODAY Sports recently. "You hear one game, 'Oh, he's the first pick.' Then the next game, 'Oh, I'm so disappointed.' That stuff drives me crazy. He's a 19-year-old freshman. He is a special kid."

Wiggins does not naturally and consistently exhibit a killer instinct or assertiveness on the court. But he was Kansas' best defensive player during long stretches this season. He showed some signs of assertiveness offensively late in the season, including authoring a 41-point effort in a loss at West Virginia on March 8.

But he finished his brief college career with a four-point effort in Kansas' third-round NCAA tournament loss to Stanford.